Time controlled mechanism



June 18, 1935. J. 1.,v FRANKLIN 2,005,653

TIME CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed May 9, l953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 tea a aiz 45.372723 a a:

INVENTOR BY W .vmwrv w-m xlzw my June 1935- J. L. FRANKLIN TIME CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed May 9, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W BY my M ATTORNEY Filed May 9, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 u cfaiizL'. 57 0721 2522 ATTOR N EY 1 Sheets-Sheet 4 k nrIT ut 1" J. L. FRANKLIN TIME CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed May 9, 1933 Jun 18, 1935.

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I QN 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY LIJ Patented June 18, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a mechanism particularly adapted for employment in connection with outdoor clocks, such as might be used on advertising signs, so that the mechanism may be operated in timed relation with an enclosed or with a remotely positioned control clock; to provide a mechanism which is automatically put in motion periodically by the control clock and which functions for a predeter- .1 mined time after which it automatically arrests itself; to provide a mechanism which, in the event that it be used as the driving means for a large clock, will function to set the clock to the proper time after the re-establishment of service on the power line following an interval or period during which the service has been discontinued; to provide a mechanical resetting means susceptibie of being asily operated in the event that manual resetting is desired or becomes necessary; and generally to provide a device of the kind indicated, which of simple form and therefore susceptible of cheap manufacture.

With this object in view, the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings but to which embodiment the invention is not to be restricted. Continued use in practice may suggest certain changes or alterations which the right is claimed to make, insofar as they may be comprehended in spirit by the annexed claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l. is a View partly in elevation and partly in section of a construction embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure l a. detail elevational view, partly in section, of the reverse side of the toothed disk in the regien of the insulating zone thereof.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 1 but showing a modified form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 1 but showing still another modified form of the invention.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are sectional views on the planes indicated by the lines 'l-l, 88 and 9-9 respectively of Figure 6.

i igure is a sectional view on the plane indicattd by the line ifil of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a detail elevational view of a segment of the driving motor control disk showing the circuit closing arm bridging the contact strips.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 but showing the circuit closing arm in the neutral or insulated zone.

Designed primarily a the driving means for a clock movement 10, of large size, the actuating motor I l is operatively connected with the movement by reason of the worm gear l2 meshing with the worm wheel M which is carried by the shaft I5, the latter having an operative connection with the clock movement. The worm I2 is the output element of the driving motor but it runs at a comparatively low angular speed due to a gear reduction interposed between it and the motor shaft.

The worm wheel I4 is mounted on the shaft I between the flanges l6 and II, the former being fixed to the shaft l5 and the latter formed as an integral part of the hub N3 of a beveled gear IS, the hub 18 being internally threaded to engage thethreadedportion 20 of the shaft. The rota tion of the gear 19, therefore, will, if the shaft l5 be stationary, effect movement of the flange ll into engagement with the side of the interposed worm gear I4. This construction is for the purpose of releasing the motor from the shaft l5, as when it may be desired to set the latter by hand to position properly the hands of the clock movement ID, in the event that the driving motor has been idle for such a length of time because of the failure of the power supply which would obviously result in the clock movement giving the wrong indication as to time.

Positioned in the bearing sleeve 2| in the supporting frame 22, is the shaft 23, the latter carrying at its inner end the pinion 24. The shaft is spring retracted, so that the pinion 24 is normally out of engagement with the gear l9 but should it be desired to engage it with the gear, a key insertedin the key seat 25 will, if pressure be applied axially of the shaft 23, force the pinion into mesh with the gear l9, after which, if the key be turned, rotation of the gear 19 will be effected and either clamping engagement with the worm wheel M will result, or the worm wheel will be released to permit free turning of the shaft. With the gear l4 released to permit the shaft to be turned. freely, it is necessary to have some means to effect the. turning movement and in the illustrated embodiment this means consists of a beveled gear 26 secured to the shaft l5 and positioned to be engaged with the beveled pinion 21, carried by a shaft 28 journaled in the sleeve 29 in the frame 22. The pinion 2'! is spring retracted, so that it is normally out of engagement with the gear 26 but is engaged with the latter if the shaft 28 be pushed axially inward Then imparting angular or turning movement to the shaft 28 will result in turning of the shaft 45 and the setting of the clock mechanism as above described.

The motor I l is designed to be operated periodically, as for example every minute, so that the minute hand of the clock movement [6 will be turned a sixtieth of a revolution each time the motor operates. To this end, a control clock 39 is employed which is provided with a driven disk 3 E, rotating in synchronism with the second hand of the clock 30. If the control for the driving metor is to be a remote control, it is preferable that the clock so embody electrical means for actuating the circuit closer by which the motor H is set in motion or brought to rest. Where the remote control embodies an electrical means, the

I disk 3! carries a collector ring 32 formed with a radial tongue 33. The disk 3| is of-insulating material and disposed on diametrically opposite sides of it are the brushes 34 and 35, the former of which terminally bears on the collector ring 32 and the latter of which bears on the face of the disk but at such a distance from the center, that it will engage the tongue 33 wheneverthe latter passes under it. The two brushes control the circuit on the magnet 33 by reason of their being in series with the magnet and with the source of supply which is the battery 31. As the disk 3| rotates, once every minute the tongue 33 will pass under the brush 35, so that current from the battery 3"? will then energize the long-range magnet 35 to impart rocking movement to a lever 38 which is pivoted as at 39 and which carries a finger #58 on its under edge, this finger being positioned in the plane of the ratchet wheel 4i and engaging in the throat between adjacent teeth when the magnet is energized. The lever is normally retracted by means of a spring 42. The ratchet wheel i! is mounted for angular or turning movem nt and is yieldingly impelled in one direction by means of a spiral spring 43. In order that any movement as a result of the pull of the spring may be step by step, there is a second lever 14, pivoted as at 45 and having a link connection 46 with the lever 38. By reason of the link connection between the two levers, when the lever is elevated by its spring 42, when the finger will be released from the teeth of the ratchet wheel, the nose portion of the lever 44 is depressed, when its pawl 'll will be in obstructing relation to the teeth of the ratchet wheel and thus preclude any turning of the latter as a result of the pressure from the spring 43. When the lever 38 is depressed, however, the pawl end of the lever 44 will be elevated. Since the normal positionof the lever is that where the finger 40 is elevated out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet heel, the lever it constitutes the means for generally arresting movement of the ratchet wheel. When the lever 38 is depressed by reason of energizing the magnet 36, the ratchet wheel will turn the distance of one or two teeth, between the tim when the pawl 41 is disengaged and the finger h engaged;

The ratchet wheel 4] serves as the medium for controlling the supply circuit of the motor I l and to this end is provided with a pair of annular conductor strips 48 which are uniformly spaced radially. These strips extend substantially all the way around the ratchet wheel but their extremities are spaced a suflicient distance to leave a zone 49 which is insulating, the ratchet wheel being preferably formed of insulating material. The conductor strips are connected together at one end as indicated at 50, so that the two may function to bridge the brushes 5! and 52 which bear upon the face of the ratchet wheel at such points that the conductor strips will traverse them as the w el rotates. The brushes 5i and 52 are included sol ally in one of the motor supply lines, as indicated at so that when they pass from the insulating zone onto the conductor strips, the motor wil be energized and thus set in motion. The conductor strip at may obviously be one wide strip of sufficient width to bridge the brushes when it engages them, but the single strips connected at their extremities is believed to be the preferable form of construction since such strips may be more easily set in the mate rial of which the ratchet wheel is made, than could a much wider strip.

Since the lever is actuated once every minute, the driving motor H is put in operation once every minute, by reason of the ratchet wheel M being released one or two teeth every time the lever 38 is operated. But the motor must be stopped after a prescribed angular movement has been imparted to the shaft l5 and to effect it, there is mounted in common with the worm I2 on the same shaft or an extension thereof, a cam til which is disposed, after it rotates, to rock a lever 52, by engaging the roller 53 mounted at the extremity of the force arm. The lever 52 is pivotally mounted as indicated at 5 1 and carries a spring pressed pawl 55 which will be forced toward and engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel when the lever is actuated. The lever is normally retracted by means of the spring 56 and in this retracted position, the pawl 55 is swept out of engagement with the teeth of'the ratchet wheel by sliding it back over the nose of a shield bar 55a. which is stationarily mounted and positioned adjacent the periphery of the ratchet wheel. When the force arm of the lever is depressed, however, the pawl is raised above the nose of the shield bar and engages the teeth of the ratchet, thus rocking the ratchet wheel backward, so that the brushes which previously engaged the conductor strips ii; are moved into the insulating zone 49 when the motor, being deprived of current, comes to rest. The backward movement imparted to the ratchet wheel by the pawl effects windingoi the spring, the potential energy of which is then available for returning the insulating zone it to the zone of the brushes.

Let it be assumed that there is a failure of the actor supply line. Under such conditions of course the motor cannot operate, irrespective of the operation of the local circuit controlled by the clock 33. But the lever 38 will be depressed every minute by the actuation of the clock carried circuit closer and al hough the motor will not operate the ratchet wheel will be turned in the direction in which it is impelled by the spring 3 and this in a step by step movement, due to periodic rocking of the levers 38 and M. When the current supply to the power line is re-established, the ratchet wheel will have advanced a certain angular distance in the spring impelled direction and the brushes will be then engaged with the strips it, so that the motor will be set in operation and will continue to run until the ratchet wheel has been driven backward to position the brushes in the insulating zone 43. Thus, the shaft 65 will be set in motion and kept in motion until it has turned the specified number of revolutions representing the time interval during which the motor was deprived of current.

' In that form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5, the construction is simplified. to the point of omitting the automatic setting of the clock in the event of failure of the current supply, the manual means only being provided for this purpose. This manual means is identical with that illustrated in Figure 1 and others, so no description of that is necessary. The motor has the identical Worm and worm wheel connection that the clock movement shaft has in the automatic form of the invention, but the worm wheel shaft 69 carries a cam 6|, differently formed from the cam although it performs a lever rocking function just as does that cam. In this simpler form, a dual circuit closer is provided comprising the spaced posts 82 and 63 of which the former carries the spring contact members 64 and 65 secured to its opposite ends and extending across the ends of the post 63, These spring contact members do not, however, unless depressed, engage the ends of the post .63-that is, they have a spring tendency away from the ends of this post. One side of the motor supply line is cut and one terminal connected to the post 62 and the other to the post 63. Thus when either of the springs 64 or 65 is engaged .with the adjacent end of the post 63, a circuit is established on the motor and the latter is put in operation. To effect engagement of the spring 64 with the post 63, a lever 66 is provided, pivoted as at El and provided with a spring 68 impelling it in a direction to cause its abutment member 69 to engage the spring 64 and. force the latter into engagement with the post 63. But the spring 68 can accomplish this function only when the roller 10, with which the lever 66 is provided, rests in the seat H of a disk 12 driven by an encased clock mechanism. The disk 12 is connected to the clock mechanism to rotate, say, a revolution once a minute, so that the roller 18 is seated in the seat ll every minute. Except when the roller is engaged in the seat, it traverses the periphery of the disk 12, when the lever is forced back so that it cannot efi'ect en gagement of the spring 64 with the post 63.

Since the dropping of the roller intotheseat in the disk-l2 will effect circuit closing operation on the driving motor, the latter is started but it will be instantaneously deprived of current by the. action of the disk 12 forcing the lever 66 upward. 'Therefore to continue the closing of the circuit on the driving motor, a lever 13 is provided having its force arm provided with a roller 16 traversing the periphery of the cam"6land seating in the notch M of the cam in every revolutionof the latter; The lever '13 is pivoted as at 15 and when the resistance arm is raised by the depression of the force arm, the spring 65 is flexed into contact with the post 63. When the roller 16 rests in the seat 14, the resistance arm of the lever drops, so that circuit closing movement of the spring 65 is not effected.

When the disk 12, by seating the roller 1!! in the seat II, effects circuit closing movement by engaging the spring 64. with the post 63, the motor is set in operation. Immediately, then, the cam 6! begins to rotate and the force arm of the lever '13 is depressed, effecting circuit closing operation of the spring 65. Thus the motor will continue to operate until the shaft has made a complete revolution and the roller 16 drops into the seat 14, when the spring and post 63 are separated and the circuit opened on the motor.

That form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 to l2 inclusive contemplates the use of the control clock disposed to operate directly in connection with the clock movement "I, the latter having a geared connection with the minute shaft 60 through the gear train generally indicated at 8|, so that one revolution of the shaft 89 will result in a revolution of the minute spindle of the movement 19. The shaft 89 carries a worm gear 82 in mesh with a worm 83, the latter being driven by a motor 84 carrying on its shaft a worm 85 driving a worm 86 mounted on a countershaft 81 on one extremity of which the worm 83 is mounted. When the motor is set in motion, the shaft 80 will thus be rotated but at a much slower speed than the motor shaft by reason of the gear reduction incorporated in the operative connections between the motor and the shaft 80.

At the end remote from the clock movement H), the shaft 60 carries a circuit closing disk 88 of insulating material but having set in its opposite faces the circular contact strips 89 and 90, these contact strips being arranged in concentric pairs and the cont-act strips 90 on the one face being electrically connected with the contact strips 89 on the other face by connections 9| extending through the disk.

Both contact strips 89 are cut short of a complete circle, so as to leave an insulating zone 92, so that a circuit making and breaking function may be performed as the disk moves relatively to the circuit closing arm 93, the latter embodying a pair of spring contacts bearing upon the strips 89. The circuit closing arm 93 is carried by a disk 94 mounted on the minute spindle 95 of a control clock 96, the minute spindle 95 being axially aligned with the shaft 66 and the control clock 96 being preferably an electrically operated clock in which is incorporated a spring or other emergency means for keeping the clock in operation in the event of the failure of power on the supply line, indicated graphically at 91.

The motor 84 is also fed from the supply line in series with the circuit closing arm 93, the contact strips 89 and 90 and the brushes 98 which bear one upon each of the contact strips 90 and are connected to opposite sides of the line 91. It is obvious, that when the circuit closing arm bridges the contact strips 89, current may flow from one side of the line 91 through the motor to one of the brushes 98, to one of the contact strips 90, across its connection 9| to the corresponding contact strip 89, across the circuit closing arm 93 to the other contact strip 89, thence across the second connection 9| to the other contact strip 98, to the second brush 98 to the opposite side of the line. Therefore, except when the circuit closing arm is in the insulating zone 92, the circuit on the motor will be closed by the control disk 88 and its attendant parts and the shaft 86 will be rotated.

But the control clock 96 is moving continuously and carrying the circuit closing arm 93. When the latter is moved out of the insulating zone onto the contact strips 89, the motor will be energized and the clock movement H1 actuated by reason of the rotation of the shaft 80. But the rotation of the shaft 89 results in rotation of the disk 88, so that that follows the movement of the circuit closing arm 93 and advances the position of the insulating zone 92 until the arm 93 then finally passes into this zone when, of course, the motor is deenergized and the shaft 89 brought to rest. But to rely on the circuit closing and opening functions being carried out in this manner would result in more or less of erratic movement of the shaft 80, so that there is a second circuit closer provided for use in conjunction with the first and this second circuit closer comprises a, disk .99-

mounted on the shaft Bl and provided with concentric contact strips we cut short to provide an insulating zone IDI. terconnected, however, as indicated at IE2, and a pair of brushes Hi3 bear upon them, these brushes being connected in parallel wth the brushes 98. reason of the arm 93 passing out of the insulating zone 92 onto the contact strips as, the immediate advancement of the disk 88 to reposition the arm 93 in the insulating zone will not result in breakingthe circuit on the motor for, the shaft 87 having been set in operation by the motor, the disk 99 will be moved to advance it so that the brushes I83 will bridge the contact strips Hit and the circuit on the motor will remain established through this auxiliary circuit closing means until the shaft 8"! shall have made a full revolution which is of course represented by a partial revolution of the shaft 89. Thus, instead of the shaft 86 moving erratically by reason of the circuit closer consisting of the disk 88 and its associated parts, it is initially set in motion by the operation of said circuit closer and given definite angular movements by reason of the circuit closer consisting of the disk 99 and its attendant parts. In the event of failure of the current supply, the

control clock continues to operate by reason of the operation of its auxiliary apparatus, but the driven clock movement will not operate. However, after a prescribed time, the circuit control arm willhave advanced some distance around the contact strips 89 and when service is again established on the line, the then position of the control arm with reference to the insulated zone will keep the circuit closed until the clock movement Hi shall have advanced to the point where the insulating zone is again brought under the circuit closing arm and the clock movement will be brought up to time with the control clock.

I The invention having been described, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. Mechanism for the purpose indicated comprising a clock movement having hour and minute hands operatively connected for a definite relative rate of angular or turning movement, a shaft operatively connected with said movement, a driving motor operatively connected with said shaft, a pair of circuit closers connected parallel and controlling the supply of current to said mot-or, means adapted to be actuated periodically by a control clock for effecting closure of one of said circuit closers for a comparatively short interval of time, motor actuated means for effecting circuit closing position of the other of said circuit closers subsequent to the closing but prior to the opening of the first, motor actuated means for effecting circuit opening movement of said second circuit closer after said shaft is moved a specified angular distance, and means actuating said second circuit closer to open position and ensuring the operation of the motor, for a definite number of revolutions corresponding in shaft movement to the interval of time during which the motor may have been deprived of current.

2. Mechanism for the purpose indicated comprising a clock movement embodying hour and minute hands operatively connected for relative angular or turning movement, a shaft operatively connected with said movement, a driving motor operatively connected with the shaft, and manual means for effecting rotation of said shaft independent of the motor and comprising a gear carried by said shaft, a pinion, a shaft having a The two strips are in-' When the motor 84 starts, therefore, by

key seat for actuation by a'key and supporting said pinion, and a spring active on the shaft to impel it in a direction to disengage the pinion from the gear, the pinion and gear being engageable on axial movement of the shaft in opposition to the spring.

3. Mechanism for the purpose indicated comprising a clock movement embodying hour and minute hands operatively connected for relative angular or turning movement, a shaft operatively connected with said movement, a driving motor operatively connected with the shaft, a pair of circuit closers connected in parallel and controlling the' supply of current to said motor, clock actuated means for effecting closure of one of said circuit closers for a comparatively short interval of time, motor actuated means for effecting circuit closing position of the other of said circuit closers subsequent to the closing but prior to the opening of the first, means for effecting circuit opening movement of said circuit closer, manual means for releasing the operative connection between the motor and said shaft, and manual means for thereafter effecting rotation of the shaft.

4. Mechanism for the purpose indicated comprising a clock movement embodying hour and minute hands operatively connected for relative angular or turning movement, a shaft operatively connected with said movement,'a driving motor operatively connected with the shaft, a pair of circuit closers connected in parallel and controlling the'supply of current to said motor, clock actuated means for effecting closure of one of said circuit closers for av comparatively short interval of time, motor actuated means for effecting circuit closing position of the other of said circuit closers subsequent to the closing but prior to the opening of the first, means for effecting circuit opening movement of the last said circuit closer, means for releasing the operative connection between the motor and said shaft, and means for thereafter manually rotating said shaft.

5. Mechanism for the purpose indicated comprising a large clock movement embodying minute and hour hands and operative connections between the two to effect relative angular or turning movement in definite relation to each other,

a shaft operatively connected with said movement, a driving motor operatively connected with said shaft, a ratchet wheel embodying a circuit closer controlling the circuit of said motor, means for effecting angular or turning movement of the ratchet wheel in one direction, clock controlled means releasing said wheel in a step by step movement to effect circuit closing position, and motor actuated means for effecting movement of the ratchet wheel in the opposite direction to effect circuit opening position of its circuit closer.

' 6. Mechanism for the purpose indicated comprising a large clock movement embodying minute and hour hands and operative connections between the two to effect relative angular or turning movement in definite relation to each other, a shaft operatively connected with said movement, a driving motor operatively connected with said shaft, a ratchet Wheel embodying. a circuit closer controlling the circuit of said motor, means for effecting angular or turning movement of the ratchet wheel in one direction, clock controlled means releasing said wheel in a step by step movement to effect circuit closing position, and motor actuatedmeans for effecting movement of the ratchet wheel in the opposite direction to effect circuit opening position of its circuit closer, the motor actuated means comprising a lever having a pawl engageable with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and a cam carried by the motor and engageable with and rocking the lever.

'7. Mechanism for the purpose indicated comprising a clock movement having hour and minute hands operatively connected for a definite relative rate of angular or turning movement, a shaft operatively connected with said movement, a driving motor operatively connected with said shaft, a pair of circuit closers connected in parallel and controlling the supply of current to said motor, means adapted for actuation periodically by a control clock for effecting closure of one of said circuit closers for a comparatively short interval of time, motor actuated means for effecting circuit closing position of the other of said circuit closers subsequent to the closing but prior to the opening of the first, automatic means for effecting circuit opening movement of the last said circuit closer, and means included in the last said means and operatively connected with the motor to maintain the latter in circuit a sufiicient time to restore the timed relation between said shaft and the control clock after any interval of failure of current supply to the motor.

JOHN L. FRANKLIN. 

